Gary McKeegan from Ballycarry lead his club Team Madigan to victory for the second year in succession in the Northern Ireland 25-mile time trial championships last Sunday morning (22nd June 2003) at Ballymena, and lifted the individual gold medal for the second time in his career.

       It was after the half distance point that the Sports Science Student from Ulster University Jordanstown began to take charge of the race in windy conditions.  From the start he was always gaining time on his main rivals inform Ryan Bankhead (Ballymena Scotts RC) who leads the time trial league and specialist time trialist John Boone (South Derry Wheelers) who is back to great form after taking a few years out from competition.  John Boone was trailing Gary McKeegan by 30-seconds up until mid distance, while Ryan Bankhead turned out to be no threat as he was almost a minute down.  It was Ballymena Scotts RC rider Tommy Wilson who turned out to be the main threat, he was riding very strong and was hovering around 20-seconds down on Gary McKeegan.  It was in the second half of the championship race that Gary McKeegan really began to move well ahead, he went on to finish with a winning time of 55-minutes 24-seconds to lift the gold medal for the second time, having won the 2001 N.I. championship gold medal with a time of 55-minutes 11-seconds.  Tommy Wilson rode very well and finished in second place 50-seconds behind with 56-minutes.14-seconds and John Boone finished in third place 1-minute 6-seconds behind with 56.30. 
       The Team medals were always going to be won by either the Ballymena or Madigan clubs.  It was the Carrick club who took the first team defending their team victory in last years championship, through strong rides by Larne man Mel McCann (57.47 & 6th overall) and Carrick man Albert Douglas (60.21 & 8th overall) and club captain Gary McKeegan.  Ballymena Scotts RC finished second team.